Shawn Tabankin, a Clifton Park resident, promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the New York Army National Guard

LATHAM, NY (12/27/2019) (readMedia)-- Shawn Tabankin, a Clifton Park resident and a veteran of multiple deployments to both Iraq and Afghanistan, was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the New York Army National Guard during a December 8, 2019 ceremony at the New York National Guard Headquarters in Latham, N.Y. Tabankin enlisted in the United States Army in 1997 as a Private First Class in the 82nd Airborne Division. He received his commission as an Infantry Officer in 2002 through the Army Reserve Officers Training Corps and joined the New York Army National Guard in order to attend New York Law School. In 2003, Tabankin took a voluntary leave of absence from law school in order to deploy to Iraq as a Platoon Leader with Bravo Company, 2-108th Infantry. As a Platoon Leader, Tabankin conducted combat operations for 11 months, including participation in the October, 2004 Battle of Samarra - a four-day house-to-house fight to clear the city of insurgent forces. Upon return, Tabankin completed law school, began practice as an attorney, and began service as a traditional National Guardsman completing assignments as the Executive Officer for Alpha Company, 1-69th Infantry Regiment, and Company Command of Charlie Company, 1-69th Infantry Regiment. In 2012, Tabankin took a second rifle command with Charlie Company, 2-108th Infantry Regiment in order to deploy with the 27th Brigade to Western Afghanistan. Tabankin became a full time active duty member of the New York Army National Guard in 2012, where he served as the Force Integration Officer (FIRO). In 2017, Tabankin transferred to the 42nd Infantry Division and currently serves as the chief of plans. Tabankin is a graduate of the Infantry Officer Basic Course, Maneuver Captain's Career Course, Intermediate Level Education, and the Advanced Operations Course. Tabankin's awards include; the Bronze Star Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Purple Heart, the Iraq Campaign Medal with 2 Bronze Service Stars, and the Afghanistan Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Service Star, Valorous Unit Award, Meritorious Unit Award, the Combat Infantryman's Badge,Parachutist Badge, and Air Assault Badge. Tabankin was born in Bronx, N.Y. and now resides in Clifton Park, N.Y. with his wife Jenn and their children, Addyson and Ephren.